Wheel



P. J. PEDRO v Jan.'3l, 1939.

WHEEL Filed Sept. '9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l P J. PEDRO WHEEL Filed Sept.9, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @atented Jan. 31, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENToFF-ice 1 Claim.

One object of this invention is to provide a novel means whereby adrop-center vehicle tire may be assembled easily' with a wheel body, andbe removed easily from the wheel body. Another object of the inventionis to supply a device of the class described having a novel safety wheelwhich comes into play when the tire on the wheel body is punctured orrendered inoperative otherwise. i

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally andtoenhance the utility of devices of that type to which the presentinvention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the "combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of con-' struction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it,

being understood that changes in the precise embe made within the scopeof what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.f

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows in vertical transverse section, a device constructed inaccordance with the invention; V

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot the ring;

Fig. 3 a transverse section wherein the vehicle tire and other partshave been omitted;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing a modification;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the structure delineated in Fig. -i

In Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a wheel body i, having a peripheral,transverse, annular base 2, provided along one 'edge with a side wall 3of annular form, the side wall being equipped at its outer edge with alaterally extended annular flange 4, supplied with an outwardly extendedannular wing terminating in a curved lip 6. A ring 1 abut against theopposite edge of the base 2 and is provided with a flange 8, a wing 9and a lip ill, duplicating the correspondingly named parts .of the wheelbody 1.

Means is provided for securing the ring '1 to the wheel body I. Thatineanspreferably embodies circumferentially spaced lugs ll, secured inany desired way, for instance as indicated at M, to the inner surface ofthe base 2 of the wheel body,l. In the ring 1 there are tapered seats[4, the seats preferably being located in inwardly extended projectionsIS on the ring 1. Securing elements it, such as machine screws, arethreaded into the lugs II and havetapered portions I'I engaged in thetapered seats M of the ring 1, the securing elements l6 being suppliedwith heads is that bear against the outer lateral surfaces of theprojections of the ring I.

It is obvious that by removing the securing elements It, the ring 1 maybe detached from the wheelbody, thereby facilitating the mounting anddemounting of a drop-center tire IS on the wheel body. The constructionof the "device is such that a tire can be changed easily and quickly bywomen and children, and other .persons disinclined to heavy or dirtywork, or not skilled in the task of tire changing.

In Figs. 4 and 5, parts hereinbefore described have been designated bynumerals previously used, with the suflix "11.

In 'this'form of the invention, there is shown 'a removable safetyflange comprising the wing 9a, the ring "la and a laterally offset andoutwardly extended safety wheel or ground-engaging tread 20, which, forthe sake of lightness and economy of material, may be supplied withopenings 2|. The safety wheel may have a chanbodiment of the inventionherein disclosed, may

nel rim 22, carrying a solid tire 23, or any other kind of tire. Thediameter of the safety wheel 20 is less than the diameter of the wheelbody Ia and the tire 19a, and the-tire, ordinarily, is in contactwiththe ground. If, however, theti're 19a,- becomes punctured or otherwiseinoperative,

the safety wheel 20 comes into contact with the ground and prevents theusual drop whichis attendant upon a blow-out or puncture.

Apurchaser may supply himself with the wheel body, having the parts 2,3, 4, 5 and 6, and then he may buy either the ring I of Fig. 2, or thering la equipped with the safety wheel 20: or if he prefers, he can haveboth of "these instrumentalities at his command, substituting one forthe other as occasionmay require or as his judgment may dictate.

The device shown, described and claimed, will be found useful ontractors as well as automobiles, trailers and other vehicles.

Owing to the fact that the securing elements .or machine screws 16 havethe tapered portions ll, the ring I will keep its upright position whenthey tire 19 becomes deflated,'there being then,

an unusual load on the device.

I-Iavlngthus described the invention, what is claimed is:

In a device of the'class described, a wheel body having means forengaging one side of a tire to hold the tire on the wheel body, aremovable safety flange engaging the opposite side of the tire to holdthe tire on the wheel body, the safetyflange comprising a ring and alaterally-offset portion of greater diameter than the ring andadapted'to form a ground-engaging tread upon excessive deflation of thetire, and means for attaching the safety flange to the wheel body.

PHILIP J. PEDRO.

